Mathematics I / Linear Independence
Practice question · Sort into groups

Sort each set of vectors by whether it is linearly independent.

Groups: Independent · Dependent

Hints
  1. Three quick disqualifiers: a zero vector, a visible multiple, or more vectors than dimensions.
  2. For the last set, add the first two vectors and compare with the third.
Show the answer

Independent: {(1, 0), (0, 1)}, {(1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0)}

Dependent: {(1, 2), (2, 4)}, {(1, 0), (0, 1), (1, 1)}, {(0, 0), (1, 3)}, {(1, 1, 0), (0, 1, 1), (1, 2, 1)}

Why

The last set is the important one: no vector there is a multiple of another, yet (1,1,0) + (0,1,1) = (1,2,1), a nontrivial combination giving zero when moved to one side. Dependence means SOME combination vanishes, not that two vectors are parallel.

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